Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

This conversation is moderated according to USA TODAY's
community rules.
Please read the rules before joining the discussion.

NKU and U of L enter NIT game with some similarities and major differences

Cincinnati Enquirer
Published 2:45 p.m. ET March 13, 2018

CLOSE

In his weekly press conference, University of Louisville interim basketball coach David Padgett talked about the NCAA Tournament draw and looked ahead to the NIT.

Northern Kentucky Norse forward Jordan Garnett (1) and forward Drew McDonald (34) smile in the final minutes of the second half of the NCAA Horizon League basketball game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Green Bay Phoenix at BB&T Arena in Highland Heights, Ky., on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. The Norse took an 86-80 win over Green Bay.(Photo: Sam Greene)

When Northern Kentucky and the University of Louisville meet for the first time Tuesday night at the KFC Yum! Center, it's clear both will have two mutual feelings: Both want to win, of course, but neither particularly wanted to play in the NIT.

For the Norse, the 7 p.m. tipoff on ESPN comes as a consequence of missing the NCAA Tournament after an upset loss at Motor City Madness. Speaking Monday afternoon, junior center Drew McDonald didn't fully indicate he's over that loss, but he and his teammates are ready to move forward.

Both are obviously first-time appearances; Both also come against the two biggest teams in the state, the University of Kentucky and U of L, which happen to be two of the biggest programs in the country, too.

"It's exciting when you get a chance to play in the postseason, regardless of your opponent," NKU head coach John Brannen said Monday afternoon. "I’m really excited we only have to go two hours down the road. So that’s nice. Obviously, the exposure it gives our program playing a team like Louisville is an honor."

And then there's the Louisville side of Tuesday night.

U of L head coach David Padgett, left, drew up a play against Virginia during the ACC Tournament in Brooklyn, NY.
Mar. 8, 2018(Photo: Sam Upshaw Jr./Courier Journal)

To them, the season was filled with off-the-court distractions that overshadowed on-court play. When the team eventually decided to participate in the NIT, part of the decision was to avoid "more national attention if we didn't play," said Vince Tyra, the U of L interim athletic director. "Frankly, these guys have been through a lot."

Interim head coach David Padgett's uncertain plans about his future involvement with the program only muddies the mix.

"I want to play Northern Kentucky because that's the next game on our schedule," Padgett said Monday in a press conference. Later he said, "We have only so much time left together."